Politically-active and politically-curious Minnesotans attend precinct caucuses tonight (7pm start) with Democrats and Republicans each holding over four thousand meetings across the state. Some analysts say tonight’s straw poll in the governor’s race means little on the Republican side because former Governor Tim Pawlenty has not yet said whether he’ll run. State G-O-P Chair Jennifer Carnahan says candidates that *are* in the race have been working incredibly hard and are “going to show an early testament of the work that those candidates have put forth into the straw ballot.”
The latest poll showed Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson leading the Republican field, with former state party chair Keith Downey a vigorous challenger. Six Democrats are running for governor, with the latest poll showing First District Congressman Tim Walz as front runner.